Facilities Team report

Serving as Junior Warden these past two years has been a rewarding experience. The challenges involved in calling a rector, finding an interim youth director, and maintaining our facilities have given me a real feeling of belonging. I feel a strong calling to support our new rector as she begins her ministry here, and to help ensure that our youth and children’s ministries continue moving forward. 

The Facilities Team has been working on the building’s security and safe access. We are installing a security door at the Main Street Lobby entrance and have added a handicapped door opener at the church’s entrance adjacent to the elevator (near the sacristy). Plans are underway to install handrails leading up to and at the altar. The Facilities Team recently conducted a walk-through of our buildings. Items we found that need attention will be prioritized and acted on as funds are available.

I invite anyone interested in serving St. Andrew’s to join our team. 

Doug Vaughan

Junior Warden 

Hospitality and Parish Life Team report

The Hospitality and Parish Life Teams work together to create opportunities for fellowship for members and visitors of St. Andrew's.  Some events are once a year, such as the Pilots baseball game, and others are ongoing, such as the weekly coffee bars.  Also included are the celebrations of special events in the church calendar and in our parish in particular.

Many volunteers are needed to make each event successful and every member of the congregation is invited to help with any of these various activities.  Volunteering is a great way to connect with new people, reconnect with old friends, and have a good time in the process.  Joy Johnson leads the Hospitality Team, Barbara Daniels leads the Parish Life Team, and Terry Wolak chairs the Fishermen, our men's fellowship group.  Please contact me at 833-6121 if you are interested in finding out more about these areas and how you can be a part of the fun! 

Merrill Hemmert

Vestry Liaison

Greetings from our new Associate Rector!

Dear St. Andrew’s family, 

With great joy, and gratitude to God, I have accepted the call to be your Associate for Children and Youth at St. Andrew’s.  I will begin on Sunday, October 1, and I am very much looking forward to meeting you all in person and joining in ministry with you.

What drew me the most to the faith community of St. Andrew’s is the fact you take the ministry for and with children and youth very seriously, just as genuinely as I do.  I look forward to putting my years of experience with young people to work, sharing with them the reality of the great love of God and the many ways in which they can express and share their faith, that hope which is within all Christians. 

I am from a large family, which immigrated to the United States from the island of Jamaica, and who are also proud citizens of our adopted country.  I am a joyous aunt of Alana (Maryland) and loving godmother of Gabe and Jamie (Massachusetts).  I enjoy knitting, quilting, reading, and weaving and learning how to sew clothing.

I also look forward to serving St. Andrew’s with your Rector, Anne, and the rest of the staff and others who give so much of their time and talents.  I want to thank Anne, and the rest of the Search Advisory Team, all of whom were so welcoming to me throughout the whole interview process. 

I can’t wait to see you all on October 1 and may God bless us in our ministry together.

Peace, 

Lorna+

Announcing our new Associate Rector, The Rev. Lorna H. Williams

Dear friends,

 

Tidings of great joy:  I am delighted to announce that the Rev. Lorna H. Williams has accepted my call to be St. Andrew's Associate Rector for Children and Youth, beginning on October 1.  I can't wait for you to meet her!

 

Lorna comes to us from the Diocese of Pennsylvania.  Ordained in 1999, she has served parishes and schools in New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Florida.  Lorna is a team player who has always worked in multi-clergy parishes, frequently combining those responsibilities with chaplaincies at Episcopal schools and a university.  Her passion is serving children and youth, and it shows. 

 

Lorna graduated from Seabury-Western Seminary (my alma mater!!) in Evanston, Illinois, where she won a coveted preaching award.  Her references describe her as well-respected, diplomatic, patient, and pastoral.  As we proceeded through the lengthy and sometimes tedious steps of the search process, Lorna was consistently on top of details and responsive to all communications, attributes that bode well for communicating with us here at St. Andrew's.  In person she is warm and candid and funny. 

 

One of Lorna's references said that Lorna is very picky about where she applies to work.  That observation echoed our experience of Lorna.  When we asked why she was interested in coming to St. Andrew's, Lorna noted that many churches say that children and youth are important to them, but in her experience few churches actually treat children and youth as if they are important.  Yet it was clear to her from our website and from meeting us that St. Andrew's really is committed to our children and youth, and that made her want to be part of us.  Lucky us!

 

Lorna was born and raised in Jamaica and emigrated to the United States at the age of 16 to re-join her parents, who had come here five years earlier, seeking a better life for themselves and their children.  She has a twin sister and several brothers, and an amazing life story to share with us. 

 

You may have noticed that my earlier articles about our search talked about finding an assistant rector and that now I am using the term associate rector.  "Assistant" is the title often given to someone who is fresh out of seminary.  Lorna has been ordained longer than I have and comes to us with a wealth of experience, and therefore I have called her to be our Associate Rector.  According to our letter of agreement, one of her responsibilities is to be "a counselor to, and a confidant of, the rector."  She is eminently qualified to be both, and I feel very blessed to be able to partner in ministry with her.

 

I am extremely grateful to the members of my search advisory team:  John Whitley, Doug Vaughan, and David Lilley; and also to Audre'ana Ellis, Cassie Jones, and Allie Wittkamp, who assisted us with the interview process.  They were unanimous in their approval of Lorna.  I am also grateful to each of you for your patience and prayerfulness during the search; and to Jen, Elizabeth and Travis for their ministry in our midst in the in-between time.  Above all, I am grateful to God for leading us to Lorna and Lorna to us.

 

I know firsthand what a warm and gracious welcome you extend to new clergy, and I look forward to joining you in offering that same blessing to Lorna.  Please continue to hold her in your prayers as she prepares to join us.  May God bless us all in this exciting new relationship!

 

Faithfully,

Anne+

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School - Small by​ ​​ ​Intent

By Janna Outlaw, Head of School

Being​ ​a​ ​small​ ​school​ ​is​ ​one​ ​thing,​ ​but​ ​being​ ​a​ ​ small​ ​school​ ​by​ intent​ ​is​ ​another.​ ​The​ ​advantages​ ​are​ ​abundant!​ ​St.​ ​Andrew’s​ ​has​ ​one​ ​focus,​ ​filled with​ ​opportunities ​ ​and​ ​life​ ​lessons.

The​ ​most​ ​frequent​ ​question​ ​from​ ​our​ ​families​ ​is,​ ​“Why​ ​don’t​ ​we​ ​expand​ ​to​ ​middle​ ​and​ ​high​ ​school?”​ ​We​ ​pride ​ ​ourselves​ ​on​ ​educating​ ​the​ ​elementary school​ ​aged​ ​child.​ ​ Especially​ ​in​ ​an​ ​age​ ​where​ ​one-stop​ ​shopping​ ​is​ ​convenient​ ​—​ ​and​ ​as​ ​a​ ​parent​ ​of​ ​multiple​ ​children,​ ​I​ ​understand​ ​this ​ ​concept​ ​—​ ​it seems​ ​intuitive​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​“Why​ ​not?”​ ​Still,​ ​I​ ​ would​ ​beg​ ​to​ ​differ​ ​for​ ​many​ ​reasons​ ​that​ ​convenience​ ​is​ ​ not​ ​everything.

Focusing​ ​solely​ ​on​ ​the​ ​elementary​ ​aged​ ​child​ ​allows ​ ​us​ ​to​ ​concentrate​ ​on​ ​a single​ ​area​ ​of​ ​education.​ ​Therefore,​ ​we​ ​spend​ ​all​ ​our​ ​time​ ​refining​ ​our​ ​craft, expanding​ ​our ​ ​knowledge​ ​in​ ​a​ ​circumscribed​ ​area​ ​of​ ​expertise.​ ​We​ ​dedicate ourselves​ ​to​ ​providing​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​foundation​ ​during​ ​the​ ​most ​ ​formative​ ​years​ ​of our​ ​students’​ ​lives.

As​ ​the​ ​world​ ​has​ ​become​ ​fast-paced​ ​and​ ​busy,​ ​with ​ ​both​ ​parents​ ​often​ ​leading demanding​ ​professional​ ​lives,​ ​our​ ​ small​ ​focus​ ​has​ ​become​ ​even​ ​more intentional.​ ​Small​ ​class​ ​sizes​ ​allow​ ​for​ ​more​ ​one-on-one​ ​attention​ ​and individualized ​ ​instruction.

At​ ​St.​ Andrew’s,​ ​our​ ​teachers​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​hone ​ ​in​ ​on​ ​a​ ​student’s​ ​special​ ​gifts, talents,​ ​creativity​ ​and​ ​individuality.​ ​This​ ​builds​ ​close​ ​student-teacher relationships​ ​that ​ ​foster​ ​trust,​ ​courage​ ​and​ ​confidence​ ​at​ ​an​ ​early​ ​age.​ ​Students can​ ​face​ ​challenges​ ​in​ ​a​ ​safe​ ​environment​ ​where​ ​their​ ​teachers​ ​and​ ​peers​ ​are ready​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​them​ ​up,​ ​dust​ ​ them​ ​off​ ​and​ ​encourage​ ​them​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​trying.

Expectations​ ​are​ ​high,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​right​ ​amount​ ​of ​ ​nurturing​ ​along​ ​the​ ​way.​ ​Our teachers​ ​easily​ ​adapt​ ​lesson​ ​ plans​ ​and​ ​tailor​ ​their​ ​teaching​ ​styles​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the varied​ ​ learning​ ​styles​ ​of​ ​their​ ​students.

The​ ​leadership​ ​opportunities​ ​available​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small ​ ​school,​ ​especially​ ​one​ ​that​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​the​ ​elementary​ ​aged​ ​ child,​ ​allow​ ​for​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​at​ ​an early​ ​age.​ ​Throughout​ ​a​ ​child’s​ ​time​ ​​at​ ​St.​ ​Andrew’s,​ ​beginning​ ​as​ ​ early​ ​as​ ​PreK3,​ ​students​ ​share​ ​leadership​ ​responsibilities. ​ ​From​ ​year​ ​to​ ​year, students’​ ​leadership​ ​opportunities​ ​increase​ ​as​ ​they​ ​grow​ ​developmentally.

Students​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​publicly​ ​at​ ​a​ ​very ​ ​early​ ​age​ ​both​ ​within​ ​and​ ​outside​ ​the​ ​classroom.​ ​Every​ ​student​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​a​ ​community​ ​service project​ ​with​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​class​ ​each​ ​year.​ ​Leadership​ ​opportunities​ ​include ​ ​public​ ​speaking,​ ​community​ ​service,​ ​technology​ ​projects,​ ​various performances,​ ​solos,​ ​patrol​ ​duties,​ ​assisting​ ​little​ ​ones,​ ​making school​-wide​ ​announcements​ ​and​ ​much​ ​more.

One​ ​extremely​ ​important​ ​life​ ​lesson​ ​is​ ​that​ ​of ​ ​transition.​ ​Because​ ​we​ ​focus​ ​solely​ ​on​ ​the​ ​elementary​ ​aged ​ ​child,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​distinct​ ​advantage​ ​to changing​ ​schools​ ​as​ ​ children​ ​develop.​ ​Learning​ ​to​ ​make​ ​new​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​adjusting ​ ​to​ ​a​ ​new​ ​environment​ ​are​ ​lessons​ ​we​ ​all​ ​need​ ​to​ ​acquire ​ ​before heading​ ​off​ ​to​ ​college.​ ​Transitioning​ ​is​ ​a​ ​life​ ​lesson ​ ​that​ ​can​ ​only​ ​be​ ​learned​ ​hands-on.

Making​ ​those​ ​transitions​ ​multiple​ ​times​ ​in​ ​life ​ ​gives​ ​a​ ​child​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​accustom​ ​himself​ ​or​ ​herself​ ​to​ ​new​ ​surroundings,​ ​socialize with​ ​a​ ​widening​ ​ circle​ ​of​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​figure ​out​ ​which​ ​techniques​ ​work​ ​for​ ​ new​ ​environments.​ ​Transitioning​ ​also​ ​takes​ ​the​ ​child​ ​out​ ​of​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​comfort zone,​ ​thus encouraging​ ​risk-taking​ ​—​ ​both​ ​ of​ ​which​ ​create​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​independence.

Working​ ​to​ ​educate​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​child​ ​during​ ​the ​ ​formative​ ​years​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​solid​ ​foundation​ ​that​ ​is​ ​challenging,​ ​without​ ​distractions,​ ​is​ ​a​ ​gift​ ​from​ ​which every​ ​ child​ ​benefits.​ ​Although​ ​our​ ​school​ ​is​ ​small,​ ​our​ ​students ​ ​are​ ​successful​ ​in​ ​their​ ​next​ ​life​ ​phases.​ ​They​ ​have ​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​without​ ​the influence​ ​of​ ​older​ ​students​ ​ whom​ ​younger​ ​students​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​ready​ ​quite​ ​yet​ ​to​ ​ encounter​ ​developmentally.​ ​Our​ ​adult​ ​world​ ​is​ ​sufficiently ​ ​fast-paced that​ ​we​ ​remain​ ​small​ ​at​ ​St.​ ​Andrew’s​ ​by​ ​intent ​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​confidence,​ ​independence,​ ​leadership,​ ​individuality​ ​and ​ ​risk-taking​ ​with​ ​one​ ​focus,​ ​preparing elementary​ ​students​ ​for ​ ​all​ ​the​ ​successive​ ​phases​ ​of​ ​life.

Learn more here: ​​​ ​www.standrewsepiscopalschool.com/blog/